But also true to the Manning mind, the quarterback was buoyed by how the single-digit temperatures that fell upon Sports Authority Field at Mile High enabled him to get a jump on his preparation for the next time he faces such conditions.

"That was another good hurdle for me," Manning said in an interview with The Denver Post. "Weather-wise, we had not had anything like that all season. There was some unknown going into that game. You can't simulate it. I tried everything from putting my hand in a freezing tank. But you just can't simulate it.

"Next year, the Super Bowl's in New York. So that was a good hurdle for me to be effective in those type of conditions."

Wait a minute. He put his passing hand in a freeze tank?

Turns out, he can skip the freezer next year. Manning discovered the benefits of wearing a glove on his passing hand this season, which makes him confident the next time the Broncos reach the playoffs — and he did make reference to Super Bowl XLVIII at his brother Eli's home Meadowlands Stadium next season — he will be ready for the elements.

Yes, Manning made the fatal quarterback mistake of throwing across his body in overtime. But that was a quick-twitch decision he made after slot receiver Brandon Stokley broke off his route and went back door across the middle.

"I probably shouldn't have done that," Stokley said.

It wasn't the cold's fault the pass didn't get there before Ravens' cornerback Corey Graham intercepted it, a turnover that set up Baltimore's game-ending field goal.

The cold's affect also can't be blamed for the pass that deflected off receiver Eric Decker's hands on the Broncos' first offensive possession, and into Graham's arms, who returned the pick for a touchdown.

Manning otherwise played well in the extreme cold, throwing for 290 yards and three touchdowns, including perfect scoring strikes to Stokley and Knowshon Moreno.

It was a performance good enough for a victory until Broncos safety Rahim Moore misjudged a 70-yard fly ball with 31 seconds remaining in regulation.

"When you take a year off from football, you come back for all the enjoyable moments," Manning said.

"When you're not playing you miss out on all the highs, but you also miss these disappointments. But I would rather be in the arena to be excited or be disappointed than not have a chance at all. That's football. That's why everybody plays it. You have to be able to take the good with the bad."

Peyton Manning completes a pass in the second quarter against Ray Lewis and the Ravens in Denver. More photos. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

He will continue his rehab at the team's Dove Valley headquarters, as much as the collective bargaining agreement will allow, but otherwise he will be off until offseason conditioning begins around April 15.

The final evaluation of the Broncos' 2012 season depends on the context from which it is judged. Given a difficult early schedule and the uncertainty of Manning's comeback, a 13-3 regular-season record exceeded expectations.

But, after the Broncos earned the No. 1 AFC playoff seed, expectations were re-set. If it helps Broncos fans, Manning feels your pain from the playoff-opening loss to Baltimore. He understands your anger.

"I'll tell you, our fans, they were All Pros yesterday," Manning said. "Sticking through that weather. Loud til the end. But no surprise. I always said that about playing here as an opponent that Denver Bronco fans get it. We're disappointed right there with them.

"I assure you, we worked hard and did everything we could. I know everyone would like to do some things different in the game."

There were way more positive memories than negative for Manning after his first season with the Broncos. But as much as the 11-game winning streak and 37 touchdown passes, Manning will think fondly of his new friendships. With coach John Fox taking the team in a day early for most road trips, a group of veterans formed the Transplant Club. There was Manning, Stokley, Keith Brooking, Jim Leonhard and Joel Dreessen.

"We used to go eat Friday nights, on road games," Manning said. "Decker was the only returnee in the Transplant Club. Coach Fox pointed out (at the team meeting Sunday morning) he thinks this is the best group of guys he's ever had. It was unique how a bunch of guys came together. We did stuff off the field. We hung out, we got to be friends.

"You can't do it right away, but as the sun continues to shine every morning you do take some time to reflect on some good things that happened this year. It's certainly not the finish that we wanted but I think it's a mistake if you don't reflect on some of the good things."